On Contempt for Worldly Honors [I]

CHRIST.
My son, do not be discouraged if you see others given honors and
advancement, while you are overlooked and humiliated. Life up your
heart to Me in Heaven, and the contempt of men will not trouble you.

THE DISCIPLE.
Lord, we are blind and are easily deceived through vanity. If I
carefully examine my life, I find that no creature has ever done me
wrong and I have no right to complain.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 41

<<>><<>><<>>
June 2nd - Blessed Sadoc of Sandomierz
Also known as
Sadoch
Zadoc
Zadok

Died 1260; second feast day on May 5. Saint Dominic's dreams of
converting the Tartars found realization in his sons. Missionaries
did, in fact, go to the North during his lifetime, and many more were
sent out by Blessed Jordan of Saxony. The more settled tribes of
Poland and Hungary readily accepted the Gospel, and the North was not
long in blooming with Dominican convents. But, in the 13th century,
the restless millions of the East were riding down upon the fertile
plains of Central Europe. Wild Tartar tribes soon destroyed what had
been done for their more peaceful relatives, and scarcely a missionary
survived to preach his message of peace to them.

Paul of Hungary and his band of 90 died as martyrs, probably in 1241.
They were popularly honored as saints early. Soon to follow was the
group headed by Blessed Sadoc, which had its headquarters at Sandomir,
Poland. So tragic was the early history of the Dominicans in Poland
that, even in that martyred country, it is remembered: Polish
Dominicans today wear a red cincture to recall the martyred hundreds
who shed their blood that Poland might receive the light of faith.

Blessed Sadoc was a student at the University of Bologna when he met
Saint Dominic and was received into the order. Being a Slav himself,
he was eager to go to the North to preach the word of God. This he was
given a chance to do when he and Paul of Hungary were placed in charge
of the northern mission band.

Sadoc soon accumulated a number of eager young students and novices,
and proceeded to Poland with them. On his first night in the mission
field, the devil appeared to Sadoc and reproached him for disturbing
his work: "And with such children as these," he said bitterly,
pointing to the young novices. With such as these, Sadoc did make
havoc with the kingdom of evil: He won many souls to God, and, in the
monastery of Sandomir which he founded, Sadoc soon had the
satisfaction of seeing a large community working for the glory of God.

In 1260, the Tartars made a fresh invasion into Poland and attacked
Sandomir. Blessed Sadoc and his community had assembled for midnight
Matins when they received warning of their approaching death. A novice
reading the martyrology for the following day, was amazed to see,
lettered in gold across the pages of the martyrology, the words: "At
Sandomir, the passion of 49 martyrs." On investigation, it was
discovered that it was not merely a novice's mistake, but an actual
warning that they understood came from heaven.

They spent the day in preparation for death. During the singing of the
"Salve Regina," after Compline, the Tartars broke into the church and
the slaughter began. One novice, terrified at the thought of death,
fled to the choir loft to hide, but, hearing his brothers singing, he
realized that they were going off to heaven without him, and he
returned to the choir to die with the others.

From this martyrdom came the custom of singing the "Salve Regina" at
the deathbed of a Dominican--priest, sister, or brother. It is fitting
that a life dedicated to God and Our Lady should end thus, with the
battle-cry "Hail, Holy Queen!" echoing up from this valley of tears to
be joined by the voices of Dominicans in heaven, who can now see
forever the clement, loving, and sweet Virgin Mary (Benedictines,
Dorcy).


Saint Quote:
It is impossible for a person who prays regularly to remain in serious sin; because the two are incompatible, one or the other will have to be given up --St Teresa of Avila

Bible Quote
Let your spirits be renewed so that you can put on the new self that
has been created
in God's way, in the goodness and holiness of the truth. (Ephesians 4:23-24)


Lord Jesus, in the midst of fierce attacks of the foe Blessed Sadoc and his companions greeted the Virgin Mary in song and received the longed-for palm of martyrdom. After this exile may your merciful and loving Mother show us to you, who live and reign
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. – Dominicans


<><><><>
The fiftieth day

The name “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word meaning “fiftieth.” Like Easter, it is tied to a Jewish feast. 49 days (7 weeks, or “a
week of weeks”) after the second day of Passover, the Jews celebrated
the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot). Passover celebrates the freeing of the
Jews from slavery; Shavuot celebrates their becoming God’s holy people
by the gift and acceptance of the Law; and the counting of the days to
Shavuot symbolizes their yearning for the Law.
From a strictly practical point of view, Shavuot was a very good
time for the Holy Spirit to come down and inspire the Apostles to
preach to all nations because, being a pilgrimage festival, it was an
occasion when Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims from many countries. Symbolically, the parallel with the Jews is exact. We are freed from
the slavery of death and sin by Easter; with the Apostles, we spend
some time as toddlers under the tutelage of the risen Jesus; and when
he has left, the Spirit comes down on us and we become a Church.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)